Recycling Success for Somerset!

Dear readers,

You've probably seen this before in various other media outlets, but with apologies, Ed has been off on holiday so missed all the excitement around Somerset Recycling Week!

But I couldn't resist the temptation to publish some good rubbish news for a change!

So, just to pick up some important bits (yes, I know, it's all important) that we should either celebrate or at least be aware of, did you know:

• at more than 56% Somerset's recycling rate is higher than it has ever been with improvements in both the amounts residents recycle and the reduction in rubbish tonnages.

A Somerset Recycling Tracker has been published, showing how much families recycled, where it went, what it became,and the carbon saved. You can see the full report at somersetwaste.gov.uk/recycling-tracker, but here are a few numbers.

Somerset;

• recycled and reused 149,980 tonnes of refuse
• saved 133,663 tonnes of carbon
• sent 108,428 tonnes of refuse to generate power
• and just 12,567 tonnes to landfill
• 97.2% of your recycling stays in the UK
• 51.4% stays in Somerset
• 2.8% is exported, largely card and paper to make cardboard boxes

With the exception of glass – bottles and jars – which has shown a slight dip, the figures show a rise in recycling of green waste, plastics, batteries, cans, food, card, electricals, paper and more.

So well done Somerset!

What else do you need to know?

Ah yes, the recycle sites have switched to winter hours. From Saturday 1st October to Friday 31st March they are open weekdays 9am-5pm and weekends 9am-4pm. More at somersetwaste.gov.uk/allatall.

If anyone goes to Yeovil, the centre there has reversed its traffic flow. Signage and staff will assist.

The Fixy Van is still busy touring Somerset to promote reuse, support repair cafes, encourage volunteers and collect smart tech to pass on – find one at somersetwaste.gov.uk/fixy.

And finally

You can start or restart a garden waste collection at any time. Until 31st March 2023 a 180-litrebin service is £57.20 and a 10 pack of 90-litre garden waste sacks is £28.30. Order through the 'Garden Waste' tab on the My Waste Services menu at somersetwaste.gov.uk.

And that's all folks!